Ray Ficca to step down in September as artistic director of Totem Pole Playhouse

CHAMBERSBURG -- Ray Ficca, the artistic director of Totem Pole Playhouse, will resign his post in September, according to a statement released Thursday.

Here is what Ficca had to say:

"After five rewarding years serving as the artistic director of Totem Pole Playhouse, I have decided to step down from the post this coming September.

"With its recent infusion of overwhelming community and financial support, the Playhouse is heading towards an exciting new future. It's a promising and important new direction that I believe, to be successful, requires a full-time, year-round artistic director, not a seasonal one. Since I live in Washington, DC, that's a level of professional support that I'm unable to offer to the theater.

"In addition, the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in DC, where I serve as president, has grown during remarkably the past five years and is increasingly demanding more of my time and attention. I plan to put the marketing communications expertise and experience I've honed at the Playhouse in service to this accredited acting studio that I have run with my wife now for 15 years.

"My years at Totem Pole have been the most rewarding of my professional career. It's the dream of many an actor to serve as the artistic director for a professional theater, and I'm one of those actors fortunate enough to have lived that dream. I've made many friends amongst the board, staff, volunteers and community, all of whom I will continue to cherish.

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"I have offered to help the board identify potential candidates for my replacement and to do everything in my power to make the transition as seamless as possible for the Playhouse, including by helping to train my successor, much as my predecessor trained me.

"I wish the Playhouse, its board, its staff, its volunteers, its fans and the entire Totem Pole Playhouse community all the best. I thank them for a wonderful opportunity and adventure. I'm planning to enjoy every minute of this last amazing summer at the helm and look forward to returning next summer - as an audience member - to enjoy the 64th season."

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